PARTY IN THE PARK-VOLUNTEERS

Platteville says thanks to its’ volunteers Thursday (7/24) evening with the annual “Party in the Park” at City Park downtown. But this year it was also a special recognition for all the volunteers who helped after the two tornadoes hit the city on June 16th. Platteville City Manager Larry Bierke.

The event also featured a special recognition from U-S Senator Ron Johnson for Platteville area police, fire and E-M-S. Also at the Party in the Park, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism announced a special marketing package for the Platteville area, in response to the tornadoes that his the area. Patrick Reinsma is the Regional Tourism Specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

Platteville will be featured on social media and the Department of Tourism website, and through an ad campaign through radio and newspapers. Reinsma says communities hit by natural disasters often find tourists thinking the entire community has been damaged, when actually it was only a part of the town. He says a similar situation happened when flooding resulted in the draining of Lake Delton in 2008. People thought Wisconsin Dells was closed, but all the water parks and other attractions were still open.